How The Brain of a Person with Dyslexia Works Differently

Posted by admin in dyslexia-assistive-technology - (6 Comments)

I recently came across a short video that provides a simple description of how the brain of a person with dyslexia works differently. I was impressed with the simplicity of the explanation. Here is a short recap.

3 Key Areas of the in the left side of the Brain that work simultaneously:

1) Phoneme Recognizer: Area used to sounding words out loud in our brain and breaking down words to similar sounds, known as phonemes (Example: the sound of the letter “T”).

2) Word Analyzer: Area used for analyzing words even more, analyzing together word syllables and phonemes (Example: the sound of “Ti” and “ger”)

3) Word Detector: Area responsible for detecting word forms, allowing to instantly recognize words without having to sound them out

People with Dyslexia, have problem to get access to both the Word Analyzer and the Word Detector. This may cause them to compensate and rely more heavily on sounding out words. Dyslexics may compensate by using the right side of the brain that takes visual cues from story pictures  to decipher words.

For the full blown 1:46 min long video, view the following “Decoding Dyslexia” video:

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XKekE10b82s&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0]

Here is a link to a previous Ghotit Blog My Dyslexia and Phonological Processing

Bookmark and Share

, , , ,

3 Reasons Reading Horizons Can Help Dyslexics Improve Reading Skills

Posted by admin in Ghotit Blogs - (0 Comments)

Ghotit will host from time to time guest blog posts about dyslexia.

The writers of these posts may be dyslexics, dyslexic family members, dyslexic tutors, teachers, assistive technology specialists or any other writer as long as the post provides quality information about dyslexia.

Here is the first hosted post by Shantell Berrett, a Dyslexia Specialist.

“Dyslexia is not a disease to have and to be cured of, but a way of thinking and learning. Often it’s a gifted mind waiting to be found and taught.”
- Girard Sagmiller, author of Dyslexia My Life

Dyslexia is the most-common learning disability, affecting nearly 10% of the population. While not the result of neurological damage, it is the product of neurological development. Individuals with dyslexia have several valuable abilities but these positive symptoms are often hidden by the difficulty dyslexics have with language skills such as: reading, writing and spelling.

Luckily, research has proven that interactive, step-by-step phonics instruction can help ‘rewire’ the brain and help dyslexic students learn to read. These methods are applied to Reading Horizons reading program for dyslexics and struggling readers:

1. Step-by-Step Approach

According to Dr. Sally Shaywitz, author of Overcoming Dyslexia, programs that teach phonics systematically and explicitly are the most effective in helping dyslexics develop reading skills. Reading Horizons teaches dyslexics how to improve reading in a step-by-step and collective format that helps users understand, retain, and apply its methods. Reading Horizons teaches dyslexics the basic rules and structure that build the English language.

2. Explicit Word Decoding Strategies

Reading Horizons empowers dyslexics with word decoding strategies that help them confidently read unfamiliar text. Upon finishing the program, most students are able to read high school level words. This does not mean that they are able to read at a high school level, which includes vocabulary, fluency, and comprehension; however, those areas will continue to improve as they continue to read additional text.

3. Orton Gillingham Methods

In the 1930s, physician researchers Dr. Samuel T. Orton and Anna Gillingham concluded that dyslexics had the most reading success when taught with explicit, systematic phonics instruction. Reading Horizons method applies the Orton Gillingham approach to reading through:

  • Multi-sensory activities that engage kinesthetic, auditory, and visual cues
  • Teaching alphabet and phonics principles in a step-by-step format
  • Practical, language-based applications

About Reading Horizons

Reading Horizons can help dyslexics improve reading using direct instruction, computer software, or a combination of the two. Reading Horizons gives dyslexics the tools to become effective readers that can decode any word and increase reading fluency and comprehension.

Learn more about Reading Horizons:

Reading Horizons Dyslexia Help Centerà  

Reading Horizons Online Training for Teaching Readingà

Sample Reading Horizons Methodà

 This article was originally published on ReadingHorizonsAtHome.com. For additional dyslexia articles, free resources, and product information visit www.ReadingHorizonsAtHome.com today!

, , , , ,

Dyslexia, Writing Assistive Technology and Grammar Correction

Posted by admin in Ghotit Blogs - (0 Comments)

English grammar is not straightforward. As in many languages, English too has a long list of grammar rules and a long list of exceptions to these rules. Now take a person with dyslexia. A dyslexic has to exert his full concentration on subduing the words from dancing up and down, backwards and forwards, and therefore does not have a very wide concentration span on writing correct grammar too.

Writing is harder for people with dyslexia. This is a well-known fact. As they struggle with their spelling, they often ignore their grammar. I am a dyslexic myself. My verbal English is quite good. Rarely do I make grammatical errors when I speak. However, many times when I review some text of mine, I am surprised by the grammatical errors that I have produced. Sometimes I ask myself “Did I really write this?”

Regular spell checkers usually have some grammar checking capabilities. But as with the other features of regular spell checkers, they are not optimized to the needs of a person with dyslexia. The algorithm for spell checkers for people with dyslexia must be much more intelligent as they must deal with much more severe and un-identifiable spelling errors mixed together with some grammar confusion.

As understood from the title itself, Writing Assistive Technology comes to assist people that have special writing disabilities. In order to support a dyslexic in producing legible and high quality written text, a writing assistive technology must also address grammar mistakes. The grammar checker must be integrated together with the spell checker, enabling a maximum secure writing experience for the dyslexic. The grammar checking for dyslexics must be intelligent enough so that even though a written sentence may be completely jumbled it will still be able to offer the correct grammar corrections.

Ghotit leverages its Intelligent Context Correction (ICC) patent-pending technology to correct grammar errors uncorrectable by regular spell checkers. Using this technology, Ghotit is able to find and correct grammar errors also when they are well camouflaged amidst text full of heavily misspelled words.

Bookmark and Share

, , , , , , ,

Albert Einstein Interviewed about Dyslexia

Posted by admin in dyslexia-assistive-technology - (7 Comments)

The following is an interview performed by Ofer Chermesh, the founder of Ghotit, the leading writing assistive technology for dyslexics, and Mr. Albert Einstein, the man synonymous with the word GENIUS, and a world famous dyslexic. All of Mr. Albert Einstein texts are exact quotes.

Ofer: Thank you Mr. Albert Einstein for joining this interview. And thank you also very much for being a dyslexic genius. One of the major misconceptions that people have is that people with dyslexia have a lower intelligence. That is ridiculous of course…

Mr. Albert Einstein: “Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I’m not sure about the universe”.

Ofer: Your son Hans Einstein has be quoted as saying that your “ teachers reported that . . . you were mentally slow, unsociable, and adrift forever in his foolish dreams”. How do you describe your experiences at school and with your teachers?

Mr. Albert Einstein: “Most teachers waste their time by asking questions which are intended to discover what a pupil does not know. Whereas the true art of questioning has for its purpose to discover what the pupil knows or is capable of knowing”.

Ofer: Any insights for dyslexics who are struggling with their studies at school?

Mr. Albert Einstein: “Education is what remains after one has forgotten everything he learned in school”. “The important thing is not to stop questioning.”

Ofer: You know, Ghotit, the company I have founded offers a unique spelling and grammar checker. It offers a solution that I as a heavy dyslexic have been dreaming about my whole life. What guidance can you provide for Ghotit?

Mr. Albert Einstein: “Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world.”

Ofer: Developing an intelligent spell checker that offers word suggestions based on the context of the sentence has taken a longer time then expected?

Mr. Albert Einstein: “When a man sits with a pretty girl for an hour, it seems like a minute. But let him sit on a hot stove for a minute and it’s longer than any hour. That’s relativity.”!

Ofer: So what do you see in the future of Ghotit?

Mr. Albert Einstein: “I never think of the future. It comes soon enough.”

Ofer: Any business recommendations for Ghotit?

Mr. Albert Einstein: “Try to become not a man of success, but try rather to become a man of value.”

Ofer: Any final words?

Mr. Albert Einstein: “Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance you must keep moving”.

Bookmark and Share

, , , , , , ,